🏀NBA Play-In Preview + Soccer + Baseball - Monday, 4/14

Dates: April 15–16, 2025
Format: 7 vs. 8 seed winners advance to the playoffs. 9 vs. 10 winners face the 7/8 losers for the final spot.

Date: April 15 | Time: 7:00 PM ET
Spread: Magic -5.0
Total: 217.0
Moneyline: ATL +170 | ORL -200

Matchup Notes:
The Magic bring in one of the league’s best defenses and strong momentum, having closed the regular season on a hot streak. They’ve been especially stingy at home. The Hawks, meanwhile, have been streaky but closed the year with competitive energy. Trae Young remains the team’s X-factor, but Orlando’s size and discipline may create problems for Atlanta’s transition game. The Hawks can get hot at anytime, but the over/under at 217 suggests this is the Magic’s style of game here. I’m going with defense over offense, but the spread is pretty accurately priced.

Date: April 15 | Time: 10:10 PM ET
Spread: Warriors -7.0
Total: 229.0
Moneyline: MEM +240 | GSW -290

Matchup Notes:
Golden State has the experience, shooting, and home-court advantage — and they’ve been better defensively than people realize. Memphis limped into the play-in due to inconsistency and injury concerns. This could be a fast-paced game, but Golden State’s ability to close games late gives them a major edge here. I expect GSW to show up and play defense — can’t say the same for Memphis. Jimmy Butler took a pretty nasty knee to the thigh at the end of that last game so we’ll see how well he looks coming out on this one. I will say that 7 points feels like a lot here given that Memphis is dangerous but I expect the Warriors to grind them down over time.

Date: April 16 | Time: 5:10 PM ET
Spread: Bulls -1.0
Total: 219.5
Moneyline: MIA -110 | CHI -110

Matchup Notes:
If you’ve been here awhile, you know I’m rolling with the Bulls. This team has simple gotten hot down the stretch and it’s mostly due to great guard play. The Heat are a bit more tested experience-wise, but I think the Bulls should take this one. It’ll be interesting to see if the Heat decide again to put Davion Mitchell on Coby White to limit his scoring and let Giddey run wild like he did last game. I just think the Heat are not a great scoring team and it’ll be tough for them to catch up unless some of the bench guys catch fire. I am slightly nervous about one thing for the Bulls: After going on a crazy hot streak, Coby White has been cold his last couple of games.

Date: April 16 | Time: 10:00 PM ET
Spread: Kings -5.0
Total: 217.0
Moneyline: DAL +165 | SAC -195

Matchup Notes:
Sacramento enters on a pretty good run and should be the favorite here. Overall, it feels like the Kings should take this. I know Dallas does fight hard at times, but this total of 217 feels pretty low considering the Kings can score from a lot of areas.

I did some early digging and looking for value. I will put out more bets the day of the games, but here’s what I am liking ahead of time!

Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
Kick-Off: 12:00 PM PT / 3:00 PM ET
Venue: Vitality Stadium
Line: Bournemouth -0.25 | Total: 2.75 Goals (Asian Line)

Bournemouth come into this one struggling, winless in their last six league games and leaking goals at home. Their attacking unit has been depleted by injuries, and despite playing a proactive pressing style, they’ve been burned in transition and on set pieces. They’ve had decent stretches of possession but lack finishing quality without key players like Kluivert and Tavernier.

Fulham are in better form, having picked up a few solid results including a high-scoring win in their last outing. Their attacking trio has shown good chemistry lately, and they have fewer injury concerns than Bournemouth. Defensively, they’re not airtight, but they’ve proven capable of creating chances and punishing mistakes — something Bournemouth has been guilty of frequently.

Play ‘em together, play ‘em separate… do what you gotta do to make that money.